The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-01-22
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

10 THE hoNORA BILE, The lou
are again assembled after a lapse of two years OF
general prosperity vouchsaied the people of the
STATE by benign and gracious Providence, ana
congratulate you upon the many hopeful signs
or n continuation for the future New dtscoy-
cries have been made and new fields OF industry
aud employment are being opened, and the pros
poets that the resources OF the state Will be
greatly developed during the coming year are
gratifying in the extreme. While thus congrat-
ulating you upon our material progress, 1t Is
with des p regret that am compelled to report
state has, in few instances, been in
terrupted by strikes aud riots of great
or magnitude, of more violence. and
farther reaching in their consequences, than ever
before. In this connection, you are reminoed
that II will be your duty as legislators, TO look
carefully into the eau. es OF these troubles, and
doing. or the punishment of wrong doors, are
found TO be defective, it will be your duty TO per-
feet them by such new legislation as recent ex-
perience and reasonable anticipatlons for The fu-
ture may Indicate to be required. While your
own intelligence, aided by your investigations
and discussions will, have no doubt lead you.
TO satisfa. tory solution of the problems IN
volved in this subject, yet may be INDUCED In 8
few suggestions, which, hope viii not be found
either impertinent or unwArranted.
1ne discussion of tn labor and capital ques-
ton has become extensive, has taken such
wide range, and Is being participated In by so
many people, representing such diversity OF
views and interests h tt IL L. not strange, II, at
this stage OF the discussion, there Is more con
fusion than clearness of thought upon 1t. To
eliminate from all this confusion and contro-
versy what is essential concrete and practicable,
and In acco with those principles OF justice up
on which all good government is sounded, and en-.
BODY it in effective law, is no light or trivial
task.
1t seems to me that a very important-I might
say, vital-iact in this great agitation has so far
been almost lost sight of, namely: that large
majority of the people of every city and every
state where the labor troubles have existed, and
an overwhelming majority of the whole people,
are not directly parties TO the controversy at nil.
The contention Is between employees and en-
ployers and both classes combined are but Il
minority fraction of the whole people, whose
peace and interests interrupted and their
rights violated by these unseemly and unnecs-
eary disturbances. 1t Is the right and duty OF
the people-that IS, OF the great msjoriiy-to
step in and say not only "let US have peace" but
1--WE will have peace" and through the law and
lawfully constituted authorities 10 TO ii tn It
we do have peace, and that disturbers are
promptly and properly punished.
In q few communities comparatively, there
are large bodies of workmen, or laborers, who
voluntarily choose to work for others. for wages.
These. by general usage, are called working
men," But they are not the only workingmen-
not the only laborers in the country. The great
brain, or both and to all such belongs equally the
proud title OF laborer But farther, a majority OF
the whole number who do manual productive
labor, employ themselves, plan for themselves,
work for themselves. and take the whole product
OF their labor TO themselves, and find market
for their surplus, when and as they can. This
bone and sinew. The pride ana glory OF
good citizenship Among them there are
no strikes or riots. no interference with the op-
portunities, liberties and rights OF others. That
their rights and their interests should be ieop-
ardiZed by the restless contentious of a small
minority tho ridiculously assume that they are
the only laborers of the country, is wrong too
manifest 10 be much longer endured. Ii the
parties to these ever-recurring disturbances can
not find way OF amicably settling their dis
puts, they must be made to submit TO such legal
arbitration as will at least protect the peace and
dignity of q civilized commonwealth.
In indicating that some additional legislation
may be required touching the rights of iaborere
OF all classes and their mutual relations to each
other, only the most prominent fundamental
principles Of natural liberty and popular govern
ment need be alluded to-
1t has already been assumed that where per
son employs himself and works on MS own prem-
ises, aud on his own material, with Lis 5w''
do with as he sees ft That he must be
protected IN the full enjoyment If all
the fruits OF his judgment, labo. and
skill il does not require argument to convince
US. 1t is self evident. But where one person en-
cages to work for another, on another's premises
and material, and with another's tools or ma
cbinery, it is equally clear that the product be-
longs to the employer; the workman's claim ends
with the receipt of his stipulated wages. The
states duty and province in such cases Is simply
10 maintain individual rights and enforce the
fulfillment OF contracts. Every ones right to
work for himself, or for any one else. on such
terms as he may choose TO make must be maln-
tanned at all hazards. He who interferes with
this principle. tramples upon the most sacred OF
human rights and upon a consecrated princi pie
of American liberty.
Government shc.ild not be--indeed, cannot ar
ford to be-indfferent TO the welfare of any class
of citizens; and il is special duty to protect the
poor and weak against any possible sggressiops
ofthe rich and strong To this end, all the rights
and interests of workingmen of the wage classes
should be jealousy guarded against injustice or
oppression at the hands of their employers. Cor
polations, created by authority of the state, that
in the nature of their business must be large en-
ploycrs OF labor or that from the ma ure of their
business and their charges for service may large
ly affect the value OF the product OF labor gener-
ally to the producer, must be held to strict and
just accountability, and be subject always TO the
control and regulation the state.
With those agrarian and sOcialistic theories OF
property, or OF each individual 10 full protection
Ill the enjoyment and control of all his lawtul
earnings, whether obtained by his own labor or
by contract, we can have no sympathy. They
are as un-American as monarchy and as trea-
sonable as secession, They contemplate the de-
struction of both justice and liberty, and would
accomplish the destruction of both if their app:i-
cation to existing society were seriously at
tempted. We are not prepared, American
citizens to even consider q change in our form
of government. Republican institutions and
individual liberty go hand In hand, and must be
and will be Loyalty maintained
FINANCES.
The finances of the state are in q satisfactory
condition. No tax has been levied upon the
counties for the pdst three years for defrayDg
the expenses of the state government. In the
previous two years tax was levied and collected
from The several counties amounting to $685.
6544S, for state purposes. Notwithstanding the
large appropriations made by the last Legisla-
ture, amounting to about $4,000 all of which
came out of the general fund. there remained a
balance in that fund, at the close of the
biennial perod. September 30 1886. as shown by
the report OF the secretary of state, of
S4S5, $50 50. These appropriations and the ex-
penses of the state government were paid with
q hp
OF the secretary of state furnishes detailed
statement of the receipts and disbursements of
s'ate government Unless the Legislature shall
make additional appropriations, above the Or
dinary expenses of the legislative, judicial and
executive departments, no necessity will exist
for providing for any tax levy for the next two
years.
TRUST FUND.
The productive school fund. on the Both day o!
September, 1886, amounted to S2,g7s,llS Al. and
there to the credit of the fund I'm the treasury
on that day, 337 30 06 The school fund income OF
the benniat period was SSS5, 49' 81 including the
one mill tax, amounting to s4ss 1891, and was
appoitioned to the several counties upon the
number OF children of school age.
The productive university fund, bearing inter-
est. on the 30th day OF Sep enber, 1856, amounted
20 $50 3.35, and the balance on hand TO the
credit OF the fund on that day, was sS7, ,552 -
The university fund income, for the biennial
period, amounted to S2l4.020s1
The Agricultural College fund, bearing inter
est, on the 30th day of September. 1886 was s25s.-
597 a. and the balance on hand In the treasury
was SIS, 153. OF. The Agricultural College iund
income was s32 99o. 81 for the two years.
The productive Normal School fund.- on the
Soih day of September, 1856. amounted TO 81, 39s,
740 IS, and the balance i'll the treasury, on the
same day, was SIS l90.4i The total Normal School
fund income for the two years was 500 ia ~ all
of which was passed 10 the treasury ofthe Nor
NAL School Board.
The receipts of the drainage fund, for the bien-
Mai period, were 500 $50 99, and the balance TO
the credit OF that fund, September So 1856, was
s65,2SS-e9. There was apportioned to counties
during this period, ST., ,U5056, as provided by
law. Under the get OF 1885, providing for me
appointment of an agent 10 expedite the settle
mcnt of claims against the general government
under the swamp lsud grant, appointed George
". Burchard, and he has procured patents to the
state for about 10000 acres of land, ana cash
amounting 10 s36S90. A bill is now before Con
gress which, should il become law, win give the
state about 500 900 additional
The 81. Croix & Lake Superior Railroad tres
pass fund has been about all closed up
titled thereto under the legislation here
tofcTe enacted. There remains. at the pres
ent time, in the fund, as the same stands mp
on the books .of the secretary OF state the
sum OF s2,osI &c. All Of this sum has been re-
tained for trespass that has been committed upon
lands claimed by the state as swamp.
The disbursements from the Governors con
tin1ent fund 20 December 81, 1886. were s,o's ~,
and the balance TO be credit OF the fuud on tha'
dsy was s. 605 p. / recommend the usual sp-